MANGO

The fruit

The mango is the tropical fruit of the mango tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. Native to eastern India and Burma, several hundred varieties of mango exist, but only a few are commercialised. The main varieties are Tommy Atkins, Keitt, Kent, Osteen, Haden, and Valencia Pride. Not counting the banana, the mango is the most consumed tropical fruit in the world. More than 90 countries grow it.
The fruit has many nutritional qualities, being rich in minerals, fibre, vitamin C, B and A and provitamins. 
The mango is subject to many fungal diseases, such as anthracnose, or parasites, such as the mango fly or the mango seed weevil, leading to significant losses. 

Production

Global production of the mango has doubled in thirty years to around 35 million tonnes (Mt) en 2009. Asia, where the mango is native, is the largest mango producer, representing 77% of global production, followed by the Americas with 13% and Africa with 10%.
On the Asian continent, India, where the mango is considered the king of fruits, is the main global producer with 13 to 17 Mt, followed by China (>4 Mt), Thailand (2.5 Mt), and Pakistan (1.7 Mt). In America, Mexico (1.5 Mt) and Brazil (1.2Mt) are placed 5th and 7th respectively in the world rankings. The main African mango producing country is Nigeria followed by Egypt (450 000 tonnes). 
First and foremost it is a fruit that is consumed locally. Although it is constantly increasing, international trade in mangoes only represents 3% of the volumes produced. Being delicate and easily perishable makes selling mangoes difficult, while attacks of mango fly larvae are becoming a major problem.

                                           Table 1. Principal  mango producing countries in 2010 (MT)

Trade centres around three regional areas: Asia, which trades mainly with the Middle East; Africa, which exports to the European market; and Latin America, which supplies the American and European markets. The two major import markets are the United States (330 000 tonnes in 2010) and Europe (225 000 tonnes in 2010). These markets are competitive, dynamic and demanding in terms of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations. Japan imports about 10 000 tonnes a year with Mexico, the Philippines and Thailand as its main suppliers.
The mango market has grown considerably over the last 30 years. Latin American countries have made the most of this dynamism by increasing their supply. In the last ten years it has grown in volume by 38% to the United States and doubled to Europe. These two markets have the lowest consumption per capita, with a little more than a kilo for the US and almost 700 grams for the EU15, compared with a worldwide average of 3.4 kilos per year. The highest levels of consumption are in Asia, followed by Latin America, Africa and Australia. In Asia, unripe mangoes are especially popular, whilst in the West ripe mangoes are mainly eaten.

Exports

From 2004, export volumes were over 1 Mt and develop around this amount. Mexico, whose production lies between 1.3 Mt and 2 Mt, with a 10 year average of 1.67 Mt, is the 6th producer in the world and the leading global exporter with 270 000 tonnes. Almost 20% of produced volumes is exported, mainly to the United States (about 90% of volume).
Since 2004, Brazilian volumes have been decreasing on the American market, amounting to 19% of Brazilian exports today compared with 28% in 2001. At the same time, volumes exported to Europe have increased, with a 43% rise between 2001 and 2010. Not only does the European market appear more attractive in terms of growth, the Brazilian mango is less competitive than those from Mexico or other American countries in terms of production costs (labour). The rise in the Real has also had a negative impact. Europe represents 75% of its exports with 50% for the Netherlands alone.
Thailand, whose production has increased by a factor of 2.7 in the last twenty years, has become the second exporter in the world since 2009. Its exports have risen by 134%, driven by the development of the Chinese market where imports have increased fivefold since 2006. The upward trend was confirmed in 2010.
Peru, whose production more than doubled between 2001 and 2008, is fourth in the world and is developing its exports on the European market, which, for the first time in 2009 and 2010 accounted for greater volumes than the United States, its traditional market. It exports around 25% of its production. Following poor weather conditions, Peruvian production fell sharply in 2009.
For Pakistan, with the exception of the United Kingdom which has a large Pakistani community, its exports are destined for the Middle East. Nonetheless, even though volumes remain low, its exports to European countries have been growing for the last three years.
For ACP countries, Haiti, with irregular volumes, maintains its position in its main market, the United States, with about 10 000 tonnes shipped each year. The Dominican Republic has greatly increased its exports to the European market since 2008 to more than 5 000 tonnes, against 2 000 tonnes at the beginning of the 2000s. For the African continent, the most important ACP countries in terms of production do not export. The Ivory Coast is the leader on the European market, with Burkina Faso and Mali being secondary sources. As for Senegal, its exports fell 50% in 2010 with around 3 000 tonnes shipped against 5 000 to 6 000 tonnes usually. The quality of the mangoes as well as fruit fly attacks have compromised its marketing campaign. The West African market share in Europe has been holding steady for a dozen or so years at around 10%, although it reached 13% in 2006 and 2007.

                                                            Table 2. Evolution of world exports of mango

Imports

The United States and Europe are the main import markets for the mango.
On the American market, imports have been relatively stable over the last five years with some variations particularly as a result of the availability of supply and therefore of the weather conditions of its suppliers, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. In 2009, volumes dropped, the effects of El Niño having reduced production in exporting countries. Whilst mango can be eaten all year long in the United States, around 70% of volumes are shipped during the spring-summer period.
Mexico, which has a comparative advantage due to its geographic proximity, is the principal supplier of the American market (66%). It is increasing its market share, with volumes increasing from 159 550 tonnes in 2005 to 221 945 in 2010. Mexico supplies the American market particularly in the period from March to September. Brazil now represents only 7.6% of supply with volumes falling regularly. Peru conquered second place on the American market, with a more than 2.5 times increase in exports in the last ten years. Whilst volumes are low, Guatemala has been developing since 2007 with shipments of over 12 000 tonnes.
Europe is the second import market, after the United States, but the increase in imports is more significant. In Europe, mango suppliers are more diversified than in the United States, with Latin American, Central American, African, Mediterranean (Israel), Asian (Pakistan, India) and European (Spain) origins. Asian imports are mainly destined for the United Kingdom, where there is a large Indian and Pakistani community. Despite this diversity, Brazil corners the largest market share (around 40%) and confirms its place as leader. This country has the advantage of supplying mangoes all year long.  Peru has been conquering, becoming the second supplier to Europe. Its exports increased sixfold between 2000 and 2010. In the last three years, the Dominican Republic, with lower volumes, made a big entrance onto the European market. Its exports increased from 583 tonnes to 4 302 tonnes between 2000 and 2010, exploiting a trade window where the European market was lacking in supplies. The supply calendar in Europe is the following: autumn/winter for those originating from the southern hemisphere (Brazil, Peru), spring for West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali), summer/autumn for the Middle East, Central America, Asia and West Africa (Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Senegal). The Netherlands are the main importer of mangoes in Europe. The United Kingdom and France are also importers and important consumer markets.
The third importer in the world, Saudi Arabia, imports between 35 000 and 50 000 tonnes a year, essentially from Pakistan and Yemen. Since 2008, India and Egypt no longer export to this country even though they represented around a third of its supplies. Although volumes are low, Saudi Arabia is the main market for Kenya and Sudan. Even though these two countries are the main ACP producers of mangoes, in particular Kenya (475 000 tonnes in 2nd place), their exports are almost non-existent.

                                         Table 3. Imports of mangoes on the European market (tons, excluding intra EU)

Source : Eurostats

                                         Table 4. Mangoes imports in the United States (tons)

Source : US customs

Prices

Supply and demand on the world market are the main factors influencing export prices. Variety, quality and origin are also major factors in determining price. Through the course of a year prices fluctuate somewhat according to the state of market supply. Whilst markets are tending to better regulate deliveries from different origins and so smooth seasonal availability throughout the year, periods of influx do occur (such as in December/January in Europe originating from both Brazil and Peru, for example) and prices fall, as well as periods of disruption with the change from one origin to another leading to price rises.
Overall, mango prices for both main markets tend to decrease as imports increase. Since 2009, some recovery is nonetheless being observed.

Fruit fly

Discovered in 2004 in Western Africa, the fruit fly (Bactrocera invadens) has spread rapidly, leading to average losses of 50% of production, sometimes reaching 80%. It is a real phytosanitary problem, which leads to numerous seizures and then destruction on arrival on the European market. 
Many national and regional initiatives have been launched to fight this invasion. Of particular note is the regional action plan to control fruit flies in West Africa, carried out by the ECOWAS in connection with the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) and the World Bank. Adopted in 2009 by all stakeholders (government, research institutes, private sector, donors), it covers a period of 5 years and is funded by the European Union (€25 million).

References

- L’amélioration des performances de la filière des produits transformées de la mangue au Burkina Faso et au Mali,  Banque mondial, PCDZ, PAFASP, mai 2009 : www.euacpcommodities.eu/fr/documents
- The market of organic and  fair trade mangoes and pineapples « Increasing incomes and food security of small farmes in West and Central Africa through exports of organic and fair-trade tropical products », FAO, septembre 2009
- Norme CEE-ONU FFV-45 concernant la commercialisation et le contrôle de la qualité
  commerciale des mangues, Nations Unie ECE, mars 2010 : http://www.cop-horti.net/IMG/pdf/2010_02F_Mangoes.pdf
- Cop Horti Communauté de pratique du l’horticulture en Afrique de l’Ouest, communauté du commerce de la mangue  et communauté lutte contre la mouche des fruits : http://www.cop-horti.net/
- National mango board (USA) : www.mango.org 
- Statistiques sur le marché américain : USDA maket news : marketnews.usda.gov
- Statistiques sur le marché européen : Eurostats
- CBI the EU market for mango avril 2009 : www.cbi.eu
- The market for organic and fair-trade mangoes and pineapples, FAO septembre 2009
- Market News Service, Cirad: http://passionfruit.cirad.fr
- The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF): http://www.standardsfacility.org/
- Coleacp : http://www.coleacp.org/